Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A modified checkers-type game comprising a novel gridded playing field and a plurality of distinguishable sets of game pieces including a multiplicity of like game pieces, the game pieces adapted to be cooperatively vertically stacked on the field and with each other in pyramidal relationship wherein each upper game piece is arranged centrally of and has its four quarter portions engaged and supported on the inner adjacent quarter portions of four adjacent squarely arranged next lower group of game pieces in the stack, said field and said game pieces having novel orienting means to orient the game pieces in pyramidal stacked relationship as they are applied to a stack of game pieces and to prevent lateral displacement thereof.

United States Patent 1191 Geary et al.

1 BOARD GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventors: Riley R. Geary; Dennis G. Mehaffey,

both of 6202 N. Ivar, Temple City, Pasadena, Calif. 91780 22 Filed: on. 9, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 513,416

[52] US. Cl. 273/130 R; 273/131 B; 273/136 E;

273/137 R [51] Int. Cl. A63F 3/00 [58] Field of Search 273/130, 131, 134, 136, 273/137 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,484,108 12/1969 Geiger 273/136 E X 3,784,205 l/l974 Cross 273/136 E X June 24, 1975 Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Georges A. Maxwell 57] ABSTRACT A modified checkers-type game comprising a novel gridded playing field and a plurality of distinguishable sets of game pieces including a multiplicity of like game pieces, the game pieces adapted to be cooperatively vertically stacked on the field and with each other in pyramidal relationship wherein each upper game piece is arranged centrally of and has its four quarter portions engaged and supported on the inner adjacent quarter portions of four adjacent squarely arranged next lower group of game pieces in the stack, said field and said game pieces having novel orienting means to orient the game pieces in pyramidal stacked relationship as they are applied to a stack of game pieces and to prevent lateral displacement thereof.

9 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures BOARD GAME APPARATUS This invention has to do with a novel checkers-type game utilizing a standard form of gridded playing field or board and a plurality of novel interlocking game pieces, whereby said pieces can be advantageously arranged in pyramidal stacked relationship on and above the field in the course of playing the game.

It is an object and feature of our invention to provide a novel three-dimensional checkers-type game for two or more players involving the exercise of abstract mathematical strategy and which utilizes a square gridded playing board or field and two or more sets of playing pieces, each of which sets includes a multiplicity of sim- I" u ilar playing pieces with novel locking means to releasably retain said pieces against lateral displacement and in assembled relationship when they are arranged in pyramidal stacked relationship with each other on and above the playing field.

It is another object and feature of this invention to provide a game of the character referred to including complementary sets of playing pieces wherein each set includes a plurality of flat, disc-shaped playing pieces which are adapted to be arranged with each other and with complementary pieces from the other set or sets of pieces in pyramidal stacked relationship on a complementary gridded playing field wherein each upper playing piece of a pyramidal stack of pieces is arranged centrally of four adjacently disposed, squarely arranged lower related playing pieces and such that the four quarter portions of the upper piece overlie and engage the related inner quarter portions of the four squarely arranged lower playing pieces with which it is related.

Yet another object and feature of our invention is to provide a game of the character referred to wherein the disc-shaped game pieces have like, flat, horizontal, reversible, top and bottom surfaces, said surfaces of said pieces having orienting projections projecting vertically therefrom and engageable with related pieces to orient and to maintain each upper piece, in a stack of pieces, centrally of four, adjacent and squarely arranged related lower pieces, whereby the pieces are easily, conveniently and positively orientally, interlocked and maintained in pyramidal relationship when stacked.

Still another object and feature of the present invention is to provide a game structure of the character referred to wherein each piece of each four, adjacent, squarely arranged, group of lower pieces in a stack of pieces within the playing field and remote from the corners of the field or the corner limits of each layer of pieces in which it occurs, cooperates with each other adjacent piece outward of that group of pieces and constitutes a piece of a next adjacent group of four adjacent squarely arranged lower game pieces with which a centrally arranged game piece can be related and a structure wherein the centrally arranged upper game pieces related to adjacent squarely arranged groups of lower game pieces, which occur below the apex of a stack of pieces establish a lower group or groups of four adjacent squarely arranged pieces with which a next upper game piece can be centrally oriented and engaged whereby a single pyramidal stack of game pieces completely occupying the game field can be established in the course of playing the game.

It is well known and self-evident that a game wherein small playing pieces must be arranged in pyramidal stacked relationship is not practical, in the absence of some special means provided to orient the pieces and to maintain them in position as they are stacked, due to the tendency of the pieces to shift and/or to become so misaligned that the stack of pieces collapses. Accordingly, a particular object of our invention is to provide novel playing pieces embodying an improved orienting and interlocking retaining means which facilitates and makes pyramidal stacking of small checkers like game pieces practical, and the playing of, games wherein game pieces are so arranged, feasible,

In the prior art, games including and/or using checkers-like game pieces and games wherein the pieces are adapted and/or intended to be arranged in vertical stacked relationship have been provided. Further in such games the pieces have been provided withinterlocking or interengaging retaining means and/or orienting means to maintain them in desired vertically stacked relationship. Such structures and means, while facilitating the vertical stacking of the pieces have, to the best of our knowledge and belief, been such that they afford no mechanical cooperation with and between laterally adjacent and/or offset gamepieces and are such that they would not only fail to assist, but would obstruct and prevent pyramidal stacking of the pieces.

In light of the above, and since it is an object of this invention to provide a novel game in which game pieces are stacked in pyramidal relationship with each other, it is a particular object of our inventiontoprovide game pieces with interengageable orienting and retaining means which serve to facilitate proper and effective pyramidal stacking of said pieces. and which preferably serve to impede or discourage vertical stacking of said pieces.

The foregoing and other objects and features of our invention will be apparent and will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of our invention throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game structure that we provide;

FIG. 2 is a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 3" are complementary isometric views showing opposite sides of game pieces of distinguishable sets of said pieces.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a game piece;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portion of another form of our game structure;

FIG. 7 is a view taken as indicated by line 77 on FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a single game piece as provided on FIGS. 6 and 7; I

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 9-9 on FIG. 8; 7

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the piece shown on FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of another form of game pieces in stacked relationship;

FIG. 12 is a view taken as indicated by line l2-l2 on FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a single game piece as provide on FIGS. 11 and 12; A

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 14-14 on FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the game piece shown on FIGS. 13 and 14.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown a portion of the game structure here provided partially assembled, that is, we have shown a number of playing pieces P and P' pyramidally stacked on the playing field F or a game board B and in a condition as might occur between the commencement and finish of the game.

The playing field F is a flat, horizontal square gridded field printed or otherwise applied to the top surface of the board B, which board, in accordance with common practice, can be established of paper board stock,

wood, plastic or other substantially rigid and durable material. The field F can vary in size, that is, the number of squares defined can be varied as desired. For example, the board can be 5 squares by 5 squares, 7 squares by 7 squares, or 9 squares by 9 squares and include a total of 25, 49 or 81 squares, respectively. As shown in the drawings, a single board B can be provided with a single 9 by 9 field F with 7 X 7 and 5 X 5 fields F and F" defined within it by darker or heavier grid lines or darker and/or heavier portions of the grid lines defining the field F.

In practice, it is contemplated that 3 boards will be provided or made available. Specifically, it is contemplated that a small board with a 5 X 5 field F", an intermediate board with both a 5 X 5 field F" and a 7 X 7 field F and a full size board with all three fields 5 X 5 F", 7 X 7 F and 9 X 9 F will be made available.

In playing the game on the 5 X 5 field F", with 25 squares, a total number of 55 pieces P and P is required to construct or build a completed pyramid, occupying the entire field. In the case of the 7 X 7 field F (including 49 squares), 140 pieces P and P, and in the case of the 9 X 9 field F (including 81 squares) 285 pieces P and P, are required to complete the game, that is, to complete the field occupying pyramidal stack of pieces which ends the game.

The pieces P and P are structurally similar and are distinguishable by color. The pieces P are shown as white or other light color and the pieces P are shown as being distinguishably darker than the pieces P, for example, black. 1

In playing the game, as when two players are contesting each other, each plays with different colored, distinguishable pieces and, according to the rules of the game, seeks to outscore the other during construction of the pyramid by most economically and efficiently or effectively utilizing his playing pieces. Accordingly, the players will utilize different numbers of pieces depending upon luck and skill. In light of the above, it is preferred that each player be provided with a set or group of pieces P or P which is greater than one-half the total number of pieces required to complete the game. For example, when playing on the small field F" where a total of 55 pieces complete the game, each set or group of pieces P and P preferably includes about 40 pieces, making the total number of available pieces about 80.

Structurally, the pieces P and P are identical and each piece includes a flat, round disc shaped body with outer peripheral edges 10 and substantially flat, top and bottom surfaces 11 and 12, the diametric extent of which is substantially equal to the lateral extent or dimension of the squares of or in the gridded field and so that outer peripheral edges 10 of pieces arranged and positioned in adjacent squares of the field are juxtapositioned to establish direct contact with each other or are so closely related one to the other as to be loosely considered directly related one to the other.

In the course of playing the game here provided, when four pieces are arranged on the board in four squarely related adjacent squares of the field, or in any level of the pyramidally stacked pieces on the field, they provide a base or foundation of 4 squarely related lower pieces upon which another, upper piece can be centrally arranged and supported.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that by following such a procedure of arranging and stacking of pieces, a complete pyramidal stack of pieces, with a base fully occupying the field and having a single piece defining its apex, can be provided.

It will be apparent that without the provision of suitable orienting means and/or retaining means to assure proper position of the pieces, as they are stacked, and to prevent relative lateral shifting of the pieces, as might occur when the pieces are being manually applied to the stack, the pieces readily become displaced, with the result that the stack becomes so ill-defined that it might collapse.

In the absence of suitable orienting and retaining means, the above noted adverse effects can only be overcome by purposely exercising special skill, patience and dexterity on the part of the players. That is, a skill and patience such as is exercised by those who construct model houses with unsecured match-sticks.

As a result of the above, the pieces P and P that we provide include and are characterized by suitable orienting and/or retaining means I, that is, means which serve to assure proper orientation of the pieces, one to the other, as they are stacked and which thereby serve to retain and prevent relative lateral shifting and displacement of the stacked pieces.

In the preferred carrying out of the invention, the means I includes upwardly and downwardly projecting annular ribs 20 about the outer peripheral limits of the top and bottom surfaces 11 and 12 of the pieces or at and about the peripheral edges 10 of said pieces. The ribs 20 are provided with two circumferentially spaced diametrically opposite notches 21, which notches are of sufficient size or circumferential extent as to freely accommodate two ribs 20 in side-by-side relationship, as occurs at the adjacent sides of a pair of adjacent, vertically related or stacked pieces. The notches 21 of each rib 20 of each piece are circumferentially offset or spaced from the notches 21 of the other rib 20 of that piece by Accordingly, each piece is provided with four notches 21, spaced 90 from each other, every other of which notches occurs at or is related to an opposite top or bottom surface of the piece.

With the above structure, it will be apparent that when an upper piece is arranged centrally of a squarely arranged group of four adjacent lower pieces, the upwardly opening notches of which are approximately aligned, the lower depending rib of the upper piece enters and is engaged in the notches of the lower pieces and serves not only to centrally orient the upper piece but also to establish interlocking, retaining engagement with the four lower pieces and prevent lateral shifting and displacement of said lower pieces. The upper central piece of each pyramidally stacked group of five pieces therefore serves as a key-like retainer for the four lower pieces of the group.

As regards orientation of the notches of the pieces, it is only necessary, for example, that all of the upwardly opening notches at the top surfaces of the line of pieces occurring in each line of squares of the playing field F be aligned and extend parallel with that line of squares and that the notches in all other similar lines of pieces on the field be similarly aligned and on parallel axes with each other. Thereafter, and in each successive layer of pieces, in the stack or stacks of pieces, the pieces are arranged with their notches similarly aligned, but with the axes of aligned notches being at right angles or normal to the axes of aligned notches in the next layer or preceding layer of pieces.

With the above structure and relationship of parts, it will be apparent that all pieces of the resulting stack of pieces are properly oriented and that they are effectively retained in interlocking relationship whereby they are prevented from shifting laterally and being misaligned.

In practice, and to establish initial, desired orientation and alignment of the notches of the first layer of pieces, the board B or playing field F can be provided with suitable notch-engaging orienting ribs 30, substantially as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

It is to be noted that the means I is ineffective for vertical stacking of pieces and is only and particularly effective for orienting and retaining pyramidally stacked pieces P and P.

In FIGS. 6 through 10 of the drawings, we have shown another form of orienting and retaining means I. In this form of the invention, the top surface 11' of each piece is provided with a centrally and upwardly projecting orienting post 40.

In operation and use, the central posts 40 on each group of four, lower, squarely arranged, adjacent pieces engage the adjacent points or portions of the peripheral edge 10 of the upper, centrally arranged and positioned upper piece related thereto, as the pieces are stacked. With this structure, it will be apparent that the four posts on the lower four related pieces effectively orient and retain the upper central piece and that upon construction of the pyramidal stack of pieces, the pieces going to make up the stack are effectively interlocked and retained against displacement.

In this last form of the invention, the bottom layer of pieces can, as shown, be oriented and effectvely retained on the field by field posts 41 suitably positioned at the corners of the grid squares and projecting upwardly from the field.

While we have shown the posts 40 and 41 as round or cylindrical, it is to be understood that they could be polygonal and, if desired, could be proportioned and formed with concaved surfaces whereby they completely occupy the spaces between the upper related pieces in which they are engaged and cooperatively receive and engage the adjacent portions of the peripheral side walls of said related pieces.

The object of the game for which the above structure is provided is for each player to outscore his opponent during the construction of the pyramid of pieces P and P, by using the fewest number of his own pieces to the greatest possible scoring effect. Fundamentally, he seeks to maintain the greatest possible lateral dispersion of his pieces throughout the stack.

The basic rules of the game are as follows:

Starting with the vacant board or field, the game is played in alternating turns with the player using the darker set of pieces playing first.

In his turn, a player must place either one or two of his own pieces on the board (pyramid), placing each onto any vacant space on the pyramid that he desired. Players may not pass their turns, nor may they ever play more than two pieces on the pyramid in a single turn. Once a piece has been played on the pyramid, it remains there until the end of the game. It may neither be moved to a different location, nor removed from the pyramid.

Points are scored during the construction of the pyramid through a process known as Capping the Square. When any four pieces in the same level of the pyramid form a square by being mutually adjacent to each other, a piece may be played onto th'espace formed on top of them at their intersection. If a players first piece completes a square, he has the option'of capping that square in the same turn with his second piece.

Incomplete squares (i ;e., less than four mutually adja-' cent pieces in the same level) may never be'capped they must be completed first.

The player whose piece is capping a square immediately receives points equal to the square of the number of his opponents pieces in that square. Thus, if the capped pieces include two of his opponents pieces, he receives 4 points, while if they include four such pieces, he receives 16 points.

Note that a player does not receive any points for his own pieces in capped squares, nor can any square ever be scored upon more than once in the game.

Play continues until the pyramid is completed, through continued capping of squares, with a single piece on the top level. Each player is preferably provided with an inexhaustible supply of pieces. If a player should run out of pieces during the course of the game, he may cannibalize the bottom of the pyramid, etc., to continue playing. Note that there are five levels in a 5 X 5 game, seven levels in a 7 X 7 game, etc.

The player with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

More than two players can play the game, providing each player has his own distinguishable set of pieces to play. In the order of play, the player with the darkest pieces always plays first, and the player with the lightest pieces always plays last (black, blue, green, red, yellow and white).

The only difference from the two-player rules is in the scoring system. Players now receive points equal to the sum of the squares of their opponents pieces in a capped square. In addition, players lose points when two or more of their pieces are in a square capped by an opponents piece. These negative points are determined by the equation: X N(N1); where N is the number of pieces a player has in the square being capped by an opponent.

The players may agree before the start of the game to play in teams of two or more. At the end of the game, the team having the highest combined point total is declared to be the winner. Partners may not follow each other in the order of play, since they treat each others pieces as if they belonged to an opponent for scoring purposes (including negative points).

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that we have provided a novel game and have provided novel structure which is specifically intended and serves to make playing of the game practically feasible and engageable.

ln FIGS. 11 through 15 of the drawings, we have shown a game piece with another form of orienting means I". The means I" includes an annular depending rib-like projection on the top surface 11" of the disc-shaped body, and a plurality of downwardly opening, arcuate rib'bearing recesses 21 with radially outwardly opening ends in the bottom surface 12 of'the body and adapted to cooperatively receive a quarter portion of the ribs 20' on the tops of game pieces occurring below said game piece in pyramidal stacked relationship.

Itwill be apparent that a plurality of game pieces such as lastdescribed will cooperate one with the other in much the same manner as do the game pieces of the first'form-ofthe invention.

It will-be further apparent that in the last form of the invention, as wellas in the first form of the invention, the game pieces can be turned upside down, without adversely affecting their operativeness.

it is to be understood that while it is preferred that the game pieces be round, disc-shaped parts, so as to resemble common checker pieces and therefore be -more likely to meet with the expectations and general acceptance of those who will play the game, they could be made ovoid, square or in some less common polygonal form without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Also, in order to distinguish one set of playing pieces from another, it is contemplated that the pieces of each set can be distinguished from pieces of other sets by the application of distinguishing characters or symbols instead of or in addition to the use of distinguishing colors, as identifying means.

In practice, it is possible to provide for and to play a game similar to the game herein provided for, wherein each lower group of pieces, with which an upper piece .is centrally arranged in stacked relationship, includes but three, triangularly related pieces, rather than four squarely arranged pieces. In such a case, the rules for playing the game must be changed, but the basic cooperative, structural relationship of the board or field and the game pieces remains essentially the same as in the preferred carrying out of the invention described in the foregoing.

In the event that the modified game, such as noted above, is provided, it will be apparent that the orienting and retaining means of coaction between the game pieces can be conveniently modified to effectively orient and retain triangularly related pieces, without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described typical preferred forms and applications of our invention, we do not wish to be limited to the specific details herein set forth but wish to reserve to ourselves any modifications or variations which may appear to those skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. Game structure for playing a checkers-type game wherein a multiplicity of game pieces are pyramidally stacked on and above a playing field, said structure comprising a substantially flat, horizontal, squarely gridded playing field, said gridded field defining adjacent game piece accommodating stations, a plurality of sets of structurally similar game pieces, the game pieces ofeach set including identifying means to distinguish those pieces from the pieces of other sets of pieces,

. each piece comprising a disc-shaped body with a cylindrical peripheral side and substantially flat, horizontal top and bottom surfaces and substantially corresponding in diametric extent with the lateral extent of the stations defined by the field, said pieces adapted to be arranged in a pyramidal vertical stacked relationship wherein each upper piece is arranged centrally of a related group of four, adjacent, squarely arranged lower pieces with four quarter portions of said upper piece opposing and in supported engagement with the inner quarter portions of said related group of four adjacent lower pieces and interengageable orienting means projecting vertically from said pieces to orient each upper piece centrally of its related group of lower pieces and to retain those related pieces against lateral displacement.

2. A game structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said orienting means comprises an annular vertically upwardly projecting rib on the top surface and an annular vertically downwardly projecting rib on the bottom surface of each game piece, said upwardly projecting rib having radially and vertically upwardly opening upper notches spaced from each other and on a common horizontal axis, said downwardly projecting rib having radially and vertically downwardly opening lower notches spaced 180 from each other and on a common horizontal axis, the axis of the upper notches being at right angles to the axis of the lower notches, the upper notches of one pair of game pieces of each group of four lower game pieces being in axial alignment and on an axis spaced laterally from and parallel with the axis of the notches of the other two game pieces of the group, the axis of the lower notches of the game pieces. being at right angles to the axis of the upper notches of the game pieces of the group of lower game pieces related thereto whereby the lower notches of each upper game piece receive the upwardly projecting ribs of adjacent related lower game pieces and the upper notches of lower game pieces receive the downwardly projectingribs of adjacent related upper game pieces.

3. A game structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ribs occur at the outer perimeter of the related surfaces of the game pieces and the circumferential extent of said notches is substantially equal to twice the radial cross-sectional extent of said ribs.

4. A game structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said field has an upwardly projecting rib in each station to engage in the lower notches of a game piece positioned at said station to orient the notches of said game piece.

5. A game structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the field has spaced vertically projecting orienting projections engaging game pieces disposed on said field to orient said pieces in related stations in said field and prevent lateral displacement thereof.

6. A game structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said orienting means comprises a central vertical orienting projection at the top surface of each game piece, said projections engaging the adjacent related sides of each game piece engaging the top surfaces of related game pieces when the said game pieces are pyramidally stacked.

7. A game structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said field hasorienting means to orient the game pieces 10 the intersecting lines of the grid and engaging the adjacent sides of game pieces arranged in the stations adjacent thereto.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said orienting means comprises projections and projection receiving recesses in the adjacent quarter portions of the opposing surfaces of related pyramidally stacked upper and lower game pieces. 

1. Game structure for playing a checkers-type game wherein a multiplicity of game pieces are pyramidally stacked on and above a playing field, said structure comprising a substantially flat, horizontal, squarely gridded playing field, said gridded field defining adjacent game piece accommodating stations, a plurality of sets of structurally similar game pieces, the game pieces of each set including identifying means to distinguish those pieces from the pieces of other sets of pieces, each piece comprising a disc-shaped body with a cylindrical peripheral side and substantially flat, horizontal top and bottom surfaces and substantially corresponding in diametric extent with the lateral extent of the stations defined by the field, said pieces adapted to be arranged in a pyramidal vertical stacked relationship wherein each upper piece is arranged centrally of a related group of four, adjacent, squarely arranged lower pieces with four quarter portions of said upper piece opposing and in supported engagement with the inner quarter portions of said related group of four adjacent lower pieces and interengageable orienting means projecting vertically from said pieces to orient each upper piece centrally of its related group of lower pieces and to retain those related pieces against lateral displacement.
 2. A game structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said orienting means comprises an annular vertically upwardly projecting rib on the top surface and an annular vertically downwardly projecting rib on the bottom surface of each game piece, said upwardly projecting rib having radially and vertically upwardly opening upper notches spaced 180* from each other and on a common horizontal axis, said downwardly projecting rib having radially and vertically downwardly opening lower notches spaced 180* from each other and on a common horizontal axis, the axis of the upper notches being at right angles to the axis of the lower notches, the upper notches of one pair of game pieces of each group of four lower game pieces being in axial alignment and on an axis spaced laterally from and parallel with the axis of the notches of the other two game pieces of the group, the axis of the lower notches of the game pieces being at right angles to the axis of the upper notches of the game pieces of the group of lower game pieces related thereto whereby the lower notches of each upper game piece receive the upwardly projecting ribs of adjacent related lower game pieces and the upper notches of lower game pieces receive the downwardly projecting ribs of adjacent related upper game pieces.
 3. A game structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ribs occur at the outer perimeter of the related surfaces of the game pieces and the circumferential extent of said notches is substantially equal to twice the radial cross-sectional extent of said ribs.
 4. A game structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said field has an upwArdly projecting rib in each station to engage in the lower notches of a game piece positioned at said station to orient the notches of said game piece.
 5. A game structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the field has spaced vertically projecting orienting projections engaging game pieces disposed on said field to orient said pieces in related stations in said field and prevent lateral displacement thereof.
 6. A game structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said orienting means comprises a central vertical orienting projection at the top surface of each game piece, said projections engaging the adjacent related sides of each game piece engaging the top surfaces of related game pieces when the said game pieces are pyramidally stacked.
 7. A game structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said field has orienting means to orient the game pieces within said stations and prevent lateral displacement thereof and comprising vertical orienting projections at the intersecting lines of the grid and engaging the adjacent sides of game pieces arranged in the stations adjacent thereto.
 8. A game structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said field has orienting means to orient the game pieces within said stations and prevent lateral displacement thereof and comprising vertical orienting projections at the intersecting lines of the grid and engaging the adjacent sides of game pieces arranged in the stations adjacent thereto.
 9. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said orienting means comprises projections and projection receiving recesses in the adjacent quarter portions of the opposing surfaces of related pyramidally stacked upper and lower game pieces. 